Small Business Saturday In Harrisburg

Blue balloons were out in support of Small Business Saturday. According to American Express, there are more than 80,000 small businesses in operation in South Dakota.

That's why they're celebrating the day by having deals and giving out prizes to customers who stopped by.

Nationwide, shoppers are supporting Small Business Saturday. The idea came from American Express, which started the day in an effort to help local businesses strive. Now local businesses in Harrisburg are helping each other out by working together.

"We've got this little sense of community with the women here that we all kind of talked about and really wanted to build each other up and kind of support each other up, instead of seeing each other as competition," said Owner of Glamour Defined, Katie Iverson.

Customers shopping at Glamour Defined and other small businesses in Harrisburg participating in Small Business Saturday, have the chance to win prizes throughout the day as a way for businesses to say thank you for shopping small.

"A couple women and I got together in the community and decided we really wanted to blow shop small Saturday out of the water here in harrisburg. We put together 3 different gift baskets. One's valued over $1,000 and the other two, $500. All merchandise donated from the other places in town," said Iverson.

More than 30 of the businesses partnered up for the gift baskets, including the owner of Lava's Javas & Treats. Laura Klenk she says you get a more personal experience when you shop small.

"With local businesses you know your customers more than these big places. Going to Target, they're not going to know you by name. Carrie Anns, The Robins Nest, Glamour Defined, a lot of those people, you go to them and I'm sure they know their customers by name and people want that," said Klenk.

The customers out shopping say they're glad to show support whenever they can.

"Small businesses, I don't think they get enough credit for what they do for the community and supporting them i think makes the community a better place for having small businesses instead of having the big, large corporations," said Mary Rose Naber.

The business owners were able to promote each other while having a busy day full of customers.

American Express has a breakdown of where the small businesses are located in South Dakota.

Small business Saturday also brought a lot of shoppers to downtown Sioux Falls.

The blue balloons were out at local businesses with signs promoting small business Saturday and deals that the shops might have. The manager of Unglued Gift Shop says it's been busy since they've opened but she's glad people are out supporting local businesses.

"The response has been amazing. Everybody has kind of noticed that there are little specials or something like that, that everybody is doing. I think people enjoy being outside as opposed to being in the mall or something like that, where they can get out, let the kids run around and get into all the other shops. It kind of gives it that nice downtown atmosphere as well," said Unglued Manager Ashley Rieck.

Phillips Avenue is home to more than 30 small, local businesses ranging from boutiques, gift shops, and more.